What was your first job as a journalist?
Covering a major data breach at a Shanghai police station. My first official writeup and also my tightest deadline to date.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yup.
How is social media changing news?
Most users prefer shortform, meaning journalists face a perpetual challenge of keeping stories both informative and engaging.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
J. Jonah Jameson
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It's always been about communicating truths and sorting through the chaos.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
BBLDrizzy
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email or LinkedIn
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
It'd be a security risk to tell you!
What's your favorite social network?
I can't say I love any of them - it's a tossup between Reddit and, controversially, TikTok.
Who do you wish followed you?
I'm proud of my followerbase to date! It'll continue to grow, and I'll continue to do my best in keeping folks engaged and informed.
Why did you become a journalist?
It's the culmination of all my interests and expertise! Once I realised it was something I could do, I developed a passion for doing it well.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I wrote a piece here or there.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Most recently, my coverage of a a lesser known data breach at migration agency Aussizz Group - got a lot of thankful messages from victims.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write well, fact check diligently, and ask plenty of questions.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time will do - you're most likely to reach me if the pitch doesn't come overnight.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I love pitches relating to early dark web discoveries, embargoed content regarding new, impactful tech, and underrepresented tech issues.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
N/A
What's your favorite drink?
My tastes are as capricious as my disposition.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At a different computer.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
SUPERJUMP, GamesHub, Wired, ZDNet
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it's a niche topic - cyber security is as commonplace as any other form of day-to-day safety.
